Thika Engineers in action against TUK © Mozzart Sport
Thika Engineers in action against TUK © Mozzart Sport

Handball: Khalif rallies Engineers in quest for playoff spot

Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 24.07.22. | 17:32

The soldiers picked back-to-back wins this weekend.

It is early days in the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) league but men's side Thika Engineers Handball Club are already plotting their path to the playoffs. 

Last season, the paramilitary side missed out on the Super Cup playoffs after finishing two places off in eight place but the 

On the weekend, the Albert Mukoya-coached side picked two crucial wins victories against Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) 34-32 and Technical University of Kenya (TUK) 28-23. 

Against TUK, the soldiers led 14-9 after a cagey first 15 minutes of the first half had the students denying them on numerous occasions. Kenneth BiwottCyprus Ongera and Paul Ngige led the scoring with five goals each for the win. 

In the match against JKUAT, Ongera led the scores with eight goals even as the Thika-based side laboured to beat an eighth-man JKUAT side that had little options on bench rotation. 

"We struggled in defense this weekend, especially against TUK, a side we should have easily held. I can, however, attribute that to having new players in the squad. We are yet to gel but we are is getting better with each match," offered Hussein Khalif

Khalif says the two victories this weekend means that their quest for a top-six finish on track adding that it is important that they maintain the winning streak. 

"So far we have lost three matches and needed a clean scorecard this weekend as it give us momentum and confidence ahead of much tougher opponents. 

We lost to the holders National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and to Ulinzi as well as Nairobi County Council, which is a defeat we did not expect. 

We are taking it one game at a time but by my assessment we are yet to play two of the top teams and we have to find a strategy when we face them," Khalif added.


tags

Kenya Handball FederationKenya Handball Federation (KHF) men's leagueTechnical University of Kenya (TUK) men's handball team

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